Derbyshire County Cricket Club has today declared a disappointing deficit for the financial year ending 31 December 2001, of £68,772.

A season of poor playing performance and a generally difficult economic climate has lead to downturns in trading income against the previous year in membership, gate receipts and catering income, although the Club's sponsors have remained particularly loyal - with commercial income increasing marginally.

"Obviously we cannot be satisfied with a loss of this amount, but we fully expect season 2002 to mark an upturn in performance, both on and off the field. The team has been strengthened and the public face of the County Ground is continuing to change as some exciting development plans at last begin to come to fruition."

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